VOA标准英语10月-Syrian President Assad Signs Decree Establishing

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has given final approval to the establishment of diplomatic relations with Lebanon, after intense pressure from both France and the United States. Damascus had never formally recognized its smaller neighbor since both countries gained independence from France in 1943. Edward Yeranian has this report from Beirut.
　

Bashar al-Assad

After months of pressure from the United States, France and a host of Arab governments, Syrian President Bashar al Assad has agreed to establish diplomatic ties with Lebanon, signing an official decree announcing the opening of a Syrian embassy in Beirut.

Both Syria and Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943. Damascus, in the years since, never officially recognized Lebanon as a sovereign state.

Syrian troops occupied large regions of Lebanon in 1976, during the height of the Lebanese civil war, finally agreeing to withdraw in 2005 after the slaying¹ of former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri. Damascus denies any responsibility in the killing².

Former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad often referred to Lebanon as part of a so-called "greater Syria," which includes Jordan and Palestine. To this day, Syria considers that there is a special bond with Lebanon, as Professor Hilal Kashan, head of the Political Science Department at the American University of Beirut, pointed³ out.

He said, "Syria considers Lebanon its soft belly⁴. It sees it as the first defense⁵ line to protect the regime in Damascus. It doesn't really matter who comes to power in Syria. Lebanon is seen as a special country, first for being part of Greater Syria, and second, because it's extremely important for Syria's domestic stability."

Some Lebanese political leaders who oppose Syria have suggested that Damascus is hoping to re-occupy Lebanon, especially after reports last month that Syria had deployed⁶ over 10,000 troops along Lebanon's northern border. Damascus insists that its troops are intended merely to "combat smuggling⁷" between the two countries.

Professor Kashan, nevertheless, called the Syrian decision to recognize Lebanon a "milestone," but said that Damascus will continue its current strategy of putting pressure on Lebanon. "Now the event in itself does not really mean much. For the Syrians, this represents a tactic⁸. Their strategy towards Lebanon will not be altered as a result of the decree - the presidential decree - to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon."

Al-Arabiya TV reports that Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh will visit Damascus tomorrow to announce a formal date for the opening of Syria's Embassy in Beirut.

1 slaying   

杀戮。

参考例句：

• The man mimed the slaying of an enemy. 此人比手划脚地表演砍死一个敌人的情况。
• He is suspected of having been an accomplice in the slaying,butthey can't pin it on him. 他有嫌疑曾参与该杀人案，但他们找不到证据来指控他。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

4 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

8 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。